Jackson Free Press

Richard Coupe

Mississippi has no bigger cheerleader when discussing the art, history and culture of Mississippi than Christine "Chrissy" Wilson. She has edited many of the markers on the Mississippi Freedom Trail commemorating the state's civil-rights heritage as well as the Mississippi Blues Trail and the Country Music Trail markers.

"They are all interesting," she says. "But working on the Medgar Evers Home marker was awe-inspiring."

Her favorites, though, were the Blues Trails markers like Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker and Howlin' Wolf because she grew up listening to them.

Wilson co-curated an award-winning exhibit called "All Shook Up: Mississippi roots of American Popular Music," which included a video for schools and an exhibit catalog based on the premise that Mississippi produced the top artists in many genres of music. In addition, she edited several newsletters and journals while at the Mississippi Department of Archives and History about Mississippi history, arts and culture, as well as books such as "Ethel Wright Mohamed" in 1984.

Wilson retired in 2008 after 30 years with MDAH and now has fun working part-time on the "History Is Lunch" series.
When Gov. William Winter was president of the Board of Trustees of MDAH, he suggested a lecture series, and History Is Lunch developed from his suggestion. The weekly talks focus on Mississippi history, culture and art.

"Even having weekly programs, we barely scrape the surface of the talent and accomplishments of individuals in this community and state," Wilson says. "I do have a hard time reading all the books that are featured during the year."

Wilson, a Rome, Ga., native, has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's in comparative literature (French and Spanish) from the University of Georgia. She moved to the Jackson area in the mid-1970s when her former husband became a professor at Millsaps College, where she taught composition and grammar for a year. She raised her two children, Geoffrey and Laura, in the Belhaven area, and they now reside with their spouses and her grandchildren in the San Francisco Bay area.

The 65-year-old also enjoys exploring the state, reading and staying in contact with her children and grandchildren. She still lives in the Belhaven area and loves it. "I have lived in Jackson for more than 30 years," Wilson says, "and continue to be amazed at the number of visionary people here--writing, painting, songwriting and playing music."